Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAKU227
2009-03-25 04:09:00
SECRET
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS TEHRAN ECO SUMMIT
VZCZCXRO8930 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHKB #0227 0840409 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 250409Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0943 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
S E C R E T BAKU 000227
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PREL AJ IR
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS TEHRAN ECO SUMMIT
REF: A) BAKU XXXXXXXXXXXX B) 2008 BAKU 1069 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: POLECON COUNSELOR ROB GARVERICK, REASON 1.5 (B and D).
S E C R E T BAKU 000227
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PREL AJ IR
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS TEHRAN ECO SUMMIT
REF: A) BAKU XXXXXXXXXXXX B) 2008 BAKU 1069 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: POLECON COUNSELOR ROB GARVERICK, REASON 1.5 (B and D).
1. (SBU) On Tuesday, March 10 Azerbaijan President Ilham
Aliyev visited Tehran to formally hand-over the revolving
Presidency of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to
incoming President Mahmud Ahmedinejad, and to participate in
the ECO summit. Heads of State from Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan also attended the
meeting of this regional organization.
ECO of Empty Talk
--------------
2. (C) While in Tehran, Aliyev and the other heads of state
held separate bilateral meetings with Supreme Leader Khameini
and President Ahmadinejad. The visit was treated as a "low
profile" event by the Azerbaijani press, and both press and
official GOAJ sources suggest that little of substance
transpired. Former GOAJ National Security Advisor Vafa
Guluzadeh told Iran watcher that the whole visit was little
more than an "empty show." He said that Ahmadinejad and
Khameini both spoke of assisting Azerbaijan in resolving its
issues with Armenia, "and Ilham pretended to take them
seriously." In reality, he claimed, the GOAJ is well aware
that Iran has no meaningful political influence in Armenia,
which he claimed "looks completely to Russia." Guluzadeh, a
veteran of many ECO summits, called the organization a
"useless talk shop."
Alborz Rig Deployment
--------------
3. (S) In a March 13 meeting with Ambassador (ref a),a
seemingly frustrated GOAJ Foreign Minister Mammadyarov noted
that no progress was made with Iran on the Caspian
delimitation issue during the visit. Mammadyarov did report
that he received new assurances from Iranian Foreign Minister
Mottaki that the Iranian semi-submersible Alborz oil
exploration rig, now undergoing testing outside the Iranian
port of Neka, will not be deployed in disputed waters, but
"just outside." Mammadyarov said that he warned Mottaki to
keep the rig out of Azerbaijan-claimed waters.
4. (C) Embassy Acting DCM has requested an explicit debrief
from the Foreign Ministry on the President's Iran visit and
related issues.
DERSE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PREL AJ IR
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS TEHRAN ECO SUMMIT
REF: A) BAKU XXXXXXXXXXXX B) 2008 BAKU 1069 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: POLECON COUNSELOR ROB GARVERICK, REASON 1.5 (B and D).
1. (SBU) On Tuesday, March 10 Azerbaijan President Ilham
Aliyev visited Tehran to formally hand-over the revolving
Presidency of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to
incoming President Mahmud Ahmedinejad, and to participate in
the ECO summit. Heads of State from Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan also attended the
meeting of this regional organization.
ECO of Empty Talk
--------------
2. (C) While in Tehran, Aliyev and the other heads of state
held separate bilateral meetings with Supreme Leader Khameini
and President Ahmadinejad. The visit was treated as a "low
profile" event by the Azerbaijani press, and both press and
official GOAJ sources suggest that little of substance
transpired. Former GOAJ National Security Advisor Vafa
Guluzadeh told Iran watcher that the whole visit was little
more than an "empty show." He said that Ahmadinejad and
Khameini both spoke of assisting Azerbaijan in resolving its
issues with Armenia, "and Ilham pretended to take them
seriously." In reality, he claimed, the GOAJ is well aware
that Iran has no meaningful political influence in Armenia,
which he claimed "looks completely to Russia." Guluzadeh, a
veteran of many ECO summits, called the organization a
"useless talk shop."
Alborz Rig Deployment
--------------
3. (S) In a March 13 meeting with Ambassador (ref a),a
seemingly frustrated GOAJ Foreign Minister Mammadyarov noted
that no progress was made with Iran on the Caspian
delimitation issue during the visit. Mammadyarov did report
that he received new assurances from Iranian Foreign Minister
Mottaki that the Iranian semi-submersible Alborz oil
exploration rig, now undergoing testing outside the Iranian
port of Neka, will not be deployed in disputed waters, but
"just outside." Mammadyarov said that he warned Mottaki to
keep the rig out of Azerbaijan-claimed waters.
4. (C) Embassy Acting DCM has requested an explicit debrief
from the Foreign Ministry on the President's Iran visit and
related issues.
DERSE